Obituary: Bob ParkerRev. Bob Parker, age 89, of Russellville died Monday, Dec. 5, 2016. Visitation is from 5-6 p.m., on Thursday at the funeral home. The funeral service will be at 2 p.m., Friday, Dec. 9, 2016, at The House of Praise. Burial will be in St. Paul Cemetery and under the direction of Shinn Funeral Service of Russellville. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The House of Praise, 5130 N Arkansas Ave, Russellville, AR 72802. The full obituary w...

Obituary: Caryn GillumDARDANELLE — Caryn Cox Gillum, age 45, of North Little Rock, formerly of Plainview, passed away Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, at her home. Visitation will be from noon to 1 p.m. prior to service. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016, at the Jesus Name Pentecostal Church in Plainview. A full obituary will run in a future edition of The Courier. Arrangements are by Cornwell Funeral Home in Dardanelle. Online guestbook and condolenc...

Obituary: Thula LarueOZARK — Thula Jeanne LaRue, 63, of Dover, died Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016. She was born June 8,1953, to Cliff and Imogene Brown Whitson. She is preceded in death by her parents. Thula is survived by her husband Rick LaRue of Dover; one daughter Rikki LaRue of Dover; and one sister Sandy Willmon of Brooksville, Fla. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016, at Shaffer Chapel in Ozark. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec...

Obituary: Nancy LawrenceDARDANELLE — Nancy J. Lawrence, age 67, of Dardanelle, surrounded by loved ones, took her Master’s hand on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016. She was preceded in death by both parents, Harvey and Vivian J. Simington; sister, Linda Bellah and a brother, David Simington. Those left loving and holding steadfast to cherished memories include, a loving devoted husband, Eddie J. Lawrence. Three daughters, Cheryl Jones of Atkins, Caryl (Randy) Fowler of Bellevill...

Obituary: Maison StandridgeMaison Theodore Standridge, age 90, of Russellville, died Monday, Dec. 5, 2016, at Atkins Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He was born on Feb. 20, 1926, in Lurton. He retired from the Russellville Water and Sewer Department after 26 years of service. He is preceded in death by his parents, Alonzo Mason and Mary Henrietta Gibbs Standridge, his second mother, Nellie Standridge; one daughter, Melissa Carol Lackey; four brothers, Clifford, Eulis...

Obituary: John Keith HayesEL DORADO — John Keith Hayes, 47, of London, formally of El Dorado passed away Dec. 1, 2016. Keith was born Nov. 6, 1969, to John Tom Hayes and Doris Ann Phillips Hayes. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. Keith loved to tell his stories of his adventures to anyone willing to listen. He was a devoted father and husband. Keith loved life and lived it to the fullest. He was a member of the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association. He will be mis...

Obituary: David BishopDARDANELLE — David Wayne Bishop, age 64, of Delaware, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016. He was born Oct. 21, 1952, to Charles and Jean Bishop. He graduated from Dover High School in 1972. He served in the Navy. David worked at several occupations. He was a welder, an insurance salesman and he worked at nuclear plants and owned a landscaping business. In his youth, he enjoyed playing sports and was a good football player. He was a lifelong...

PC Farmer's Market year end nearsWith Dec. 24 as the Pope County Farmer’s Market (PCFM) official last day of the year, vendors reflect on the success 2016 brought to the market’s 44th season. Though Christmas Eve is the official last day, Dalinda LaRue, a farmers market board member, said as of right now only two vendors have confirmed they will be set up that day. One major accomplishment for the market this year was a matching grant for advertising they received from the Ar...

Audit of Arkansas State University sent to prosecutorLITTLE ROCK — Legislative auditors have turned over to prosecutors their review of the Arkansas State University System, including some findings related to the university's former chancellor who resigned shortly before the school year began. Former chancellor Tim Hudson, 62, stepped down after the issuance of several internal audits that were critical of him and his wife, Deidra Hudson, who ran the university's study abroad program. On Thursda...

Rainy forecast prompts changes to Arkansas Capitol ceremonyLITTLE ROCK — A rainy forecast has prompted state officials to cancel the holiday fireworks display planned for Saturday at the state Capitol. Arkansas Secretary of State Mark Martin's office says the annual Capitol lighting ceremony has been moved indoors to the second-floor rotunda. Forecasters are predicting a steady drizzle of rain and high temperatures in the 40s on Saturday. Little Rock's annual holiday parade, which was set for Saturday...

Obituary: Caryn GillumCaryn Cox Gillum, age 45, of North Little Rock, formerly of Plainview, passed away Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, at her home. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016, at Cornwell Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation will be held from noon to 1 p.m. prior to service. A full obituary will run in a future edition of The Courier. Arrangements are by Cornwell Funeral Home in Dardanelle. Online guest book and condolences at www.cornwellfu...

Obituary: Beulah TorrenceDANVILLE — Beulah Mae Torrence, 92, of Danville, passed away Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, at Chambers Memorial Hospital in Danville. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Friday at the church. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016, at the Danville United Methodist Church with Rev. Tom Sullinger officiating. Burial will be at Howell Cemetery. Arrangements are by Cornwell Funeral Home, Danville. Online guest book and condolences at www...

Obituary: Quinton PhillipsQuinton “Sonny” Phillips, age 82, of Russellville, died Monday, Dec. 1, 2016, at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center. He was born Oct. 29, 1934, in Fort Douglas to Guss and Pearlie Stone Phillips. He was a logger and served in the United States Army and was honorably discharged. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Evelyn Garner. Survivors include two brothers, four sisters and numerous nephews and nieces. Burial will be priv...

Obituary: Murray GreenPARIS — Murray Green, 91 of Paris, Ark., passed away on Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, in Fort Smith. He was born on Jan. 26, 1925, in Paris to his parents John Omer Green and Sally (Franklin) Green. He was owner operator of Murray’s Barber Shop in Paris and a dairy farmer. He served his country proudly in the United States Army during WWII, was a member of Union Assembly of God Church and the American Legion Post #121 of Paris. Murray showed no mercy ...

Obituary: Janet LathamJanet Lee Latham, 81, died Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016, at home in Russellville. She was born Nov. 22, 1935, in Sioux Falls, S.D. to Sherman and Fern Erickson. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother John Erickson, and granddaughter Megan Carr Jones. She is survived by her husband George and their son Paul Latham of Springdale, daughter Lori Hankins of Wilkesboro, North Carolina, son and daughter-in-law Chris and Jodine Latham of Grants...

Roxanna ShoptawDOVER — Roxanna Shoptaw, 66, of Dover, went home to be with the Lord Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016. The daughter of Harold and Louise (Hailey) Shaver, she was born Nov. 6, 1950 in Webb City, Mo. She married Merrell Shoptaw on Dec. 18, 1987, in Joplin, Mo., and was a homemaker. She was a member of the Dover Church of Christ and past Sunday school teacher. She enjoyed shopping, traveling and especially spending time with her grandchildren. Roxanna wa...

Obituary: Carroll Eugene “Gene” HousdanCarroll “Gene” Housdan, 78, of Russellville, passed away, Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, at his home in Russellville. The son of Harl and Pearl Sullivan Housdan, he was born Aug. 3, 1938, in Portia and attended Black Rock High School. Gene and Patsy Davis were married on July 29, 1956 in Sedgewick. He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1955 and retired in 1975 with the rank of Gunners Mate Chief Petty Officer. Chief Housdan’s specialty was 0891-ASRO...

Clarksville school board approves new bonusesCLARKSVILLE — The Clarksville School Board met and approved bonuses for personnel and approved personnel recommendations. A bonus of $250 for licensed and classified personnel was approved by the board as recommended by the licensed and classified personnel policy committees. The bonus was proposed by administration and will be distributed prior to the end of the year. The board also approved the following temporary work agreements for before ...

Police: Chase hit speeds of 110 mphJeffrey L. Metcalf, 26, and Dustin S. Seiter, 24, were arrested on Nov. 30 after leading Russellville Police on a high speed chase, which ended when the vehicle Metcalf was driving crashed in Dardanelle. Russellville detective Steve Barker testified in felony bond hearings on Friday that the incident began after police responded to shots fired on South Knoxville Avenue. According to testimony, Metcalf offered to buy a vehicle from the victim b...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley